| Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 63 "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 63 | Hey folks
Just a bit of good news to share, which i know is sometimes encouraging to hear.
I was best man at my brothers wedding on the weekend (a cracker of a weekend!), which meant giving the all-important best man speech.
When i first gave this thought post surgery, i was about 4 weeks into recovery and not talking too clearly and wasn't really seeing the kind of improvement that i thought would lead me to being able to stand up and be understood by over 100 people in just a couple months...
I spoke to him at about that time, saying i wasn't confident about being able to do the speech. He told me he'd just get one of the other groomsman to read my speech if we had to.
Well, the speech went awesomely!
I got laughs in all the right places and tears in all the right places.
I posted recently about a successful couple of presentations for a client at work, but this is even more mind-blowing for me contemplating it now...
Stoked!
stage 2 scc in left oral tongue. 32 at dx removed 21/12/09 plus left neck dissection and upper arm flap. clear pathology 24/12/09 non-smoker active footballer/surfer social drinker lives stress-free!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 |
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 212 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 212 | Jon, nice to hear! It is good when we tackle these anoying problems. One by one they fall!
Steve
70 male, athlete...again SSC of undetermined orgin , early july 09 40 tx radiation, 8 chemo cisplatin and ebuterx finished TX in mid Sept 09 Clear at the 6 year mark! Back to swimming, biking and running! just a tad slower never regained my weight, even when I eat lots and lots, just a skinny guy now
Just way glad to be seeing the green side up!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Jon,
So happy for you! Sending you a big bear hug and a friendly slap on the back. Your brother is a lucky man to have you in his life.
Anita
Anita (68) CG to husband, Clark, 79, DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08, HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft. Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear, PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14 Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22 PEG 7/21 Botox injections
| | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | What a wonderful confidence builder that must be. Glad it turned out so well.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,301 "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,301 | And so you should be stoked!! So good to hear that your speech went so well especially as you were best man to your brother�did someone get it on tape?? I sometimes think we can be our own worst enemies. I am sure we do not look and sound as bad as we sometimes think we do. Thanks for sharing the good news Jon. Gabriele
History Leukoplakia bx 8/2006 SCC floor mouth T3N0M0- Verrucous Carcinoma. 14 hour 0p SCC-Right ND/excision/marginal mandibulectomy 9/2006, 4 teeth removed, flap from wrist, trach-ng 6 days- no chemo/rad. 6 ops and debulking (flap/tongue join) + bx's 2006-2012. bx Jan 2012 Hyperkeratosis-Epithelial Dysplasia 24cm GIST tumour removed 8/2013. Indefinite Oral Chemo.
1/31/16 passed away peacefully surrounded by family
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 |
Teresa ----------- CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09 tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3 PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09 35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10 tx stopped due to complications IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10 PET 4/12/10 CLEAR! PEG out 4/14/10
| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jon,
You made my day with your post.
Congratulations and keep the good news coming.
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 63 "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 63 | Hi again thanks for all the nice words. and yes, there was a video camera rolling - was the only thing making me nervous :o)
I'm yet to see the footage though...
take care and hope everyone is getting their own little bits of good news here and there. jp
stage 2 scc in left oral tongue. 32 at dx removed 21/12/09 plus left neck dissection and upper arm flap. clear pathology 24/12/09 non-smoker active footballer/surfer social drinker lives stress-free!
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | That speech did double duty: it honored your brother & his bride and restored your confidence. Sky's the limit, now. Nice going!
Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
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